NEED IDEAS!!

I still need some ideas to get Ellen's attention for my Ellen Quest 2010.

If yours is chosen you can win a Starbucks gift card!!

Sony Reader Winner!!!

CONGRATS to The Mrs.!!!

Please contact my email to give me an adress so Borders can send you your prize!! Once again congrats and keep an eye out on my blog for more contests!

My Children Are Models!

Just a fun afternoon!

PS. I took these!

LAST CHANCE!!

LAST CHANCE TO WIN A SONY READER!! CLOSES TOMORROW AT MIDNIGHT!

HURRY CLICK HERE!!

Lost My Doctor, Now My Aesthetician

Allow me to introduce you to my....

Eyebrows

Do you see them? I'm this close to being apart of the Muppet family.

I know what you are going to say: "Vanessa, why, haven't you gone to get them waxed or something?"

Here's the thing, I've been calling my salon and there has been no answer. I drove by before hubby went to California, and notice they are no longer there. What the heck!

First my doctor, a multitude of babysitters and now my salon? I'm starting to get a complex here!

And because I trust a small amount of people with my hair and face, I now have to find someone new! UGH!

There is one salon in my town everyone raves about, so I'll go check it out... when I get a sitter LOL! Oh the circle that is my life. I'm hoping my eyebrows don't look like Bert's by the time my husband comes home!

He's Just Cute!

I remember putting Ducky to bed with PJs.

ELLEN QUEST 2010- You Decide!

With my goal of being on Ellen's Show in November when Cpl.Mayhem comes home from Afghanistan. I mentioned in my first video post that I would like your impute, so here's you change.

Post some of the things that you think I should do to get Ellen's attention and you could win a $5 Starbucks card! Everyone can apply! Have fun with this and I will pick at random which one to do first!

My only rules are NO NUDITY or anything that can land me in jail!!
Hubby's rule is No head shaving! Sorry, for those who think that is funny...

Be creative! Have fun!

The first round of suggestions ends February 12th!!

Later days!

Waiting, and Hoping and Wishing, and Waiting....

Cpl. Mayhem and I were never a telephone couple. When we started dating we texted and hung out more than spending forever on the phone saying "you hang up", "no, you hang up"...

At first I thought it wasn't too serious, we texted. I got Shakespeare texts on my phone (which was cute!). We emailed each other, but for the most part we were always together.

I think our longest phone conversation was when Cpl. Mayhem was in basic training and we were on the phone figuring out paperwork! Romantic!!

Long story short, we are not phone people.

So here I am 7 years later, staring at my phone!

I used to think it was funny to hear how some wives would get so upset over missing a phone call and now I'm one of them, I'm not trying to offend any military wife here, lets just get that out of the way altogether.

But, when Cpl. Mayhem was away on a course or training, I just thought, he'll be home in 6 weeks, 2 months, 4 months. Now the big deployment is getting closer and closer and I'm itching for a call.

Someone told me they transfer their phone calls to their cell phone when they leave the house. I'm actually thinking of doing that too!! Because, all you ladies who have done deployments before know, it's not like you are going to get a phone call everyday at 6pm (lucky to those who are able to get them). You may get a call at 6am, and then not hear from them for weeks on end. You miss that call and that's it!

It's been a hard three weeks. We've been cut off twice so far, which is frustrating. It would be nice to talk to him without having to deal with business stuff and the kids issues.

Call soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN!!!

Many blessing on your birthday!!

What I Did Today Because Mother Nature Decided To Be A Bitch

I made Fortune Cookies!!

MOMVERSATION MONDAY: Haiti Earthquake: Do You Shield Your Kids from Tragedy?

Happy Momversation Monday!!

This is one is going to be a tough one...

In the midst of the Earthquakes in Haiti, Karen Walrond of chookooloonks asks, "Do you shield your children from tragedies?"

I don't shied them from it, but I don't make it a point to bring it up in a conversation either.

I mean they are 2 and almost 5, it's kind of hard for their brains to wrap around the fact that dad's going to be gone for two months let along a disaster like this one.

Since the TV is always on a channel with kids show and no commercials, the news doesn't play so they don't see it.

I don't shield them from the tragedies of the world. Ducky does know that there are children in the world that don't have what he has and how blessed he is to have a roof over his head and toys to play with. He did tell me one day that he believes that all kids should have a toys and good food. I just hugged him! I love the rainbows and sunshine mentality that he has, I really don't want to burst his button just yet.

Right now I'm going with what his school is saying about Haiti, making it age appropriate and not give him too much that it would overwhelm him. Like I said deployment is around the corner and I'm having problems with his behavior as it is.

I'm going to let them be kids in their state of blissful unawareness for now.
 

The Weight Issue Continues...

I'm on my second week of working out and attemping to eat right. Attempting...

I go everyday to workout and I'm loving it! It gives me something to do during the day. Chicky gets a chance to play with other kids. Makes me accountable to going tothe gym when I pay in advance for the childcare.

But am I the only one who can't see the results? Everyone has mentioned that I look like I've lost some weight, but it's not showing on the scale. I know, muscle weighs more than fat and all that, but I'm so used to jumping onthe scale and seeing some results.

So I've now started to go back to the old faithful trick of putting on my goal jeans and see how close I'm getting!

That's right! I've ditched the scale! I'm so tired of having the ball and chain dragging me to check my weight every morning or before bed. Or sometimes twice in a day. That's not healthy for me. It's just making it worse. Being an emotional eater, when that scale doesn't show the work I've done, I want to stuff my face. I wish I could just see something.

I wish I wasn't so hard on myself to the point of screwing up all that hard work! You have to undersand here, I'm not a big "I'm OK in new surroundings" kind of girl. I'm personally terrified of new scenes and places. So to go to the gym or dance class is a BIG step for me.

I have no idea how to control my eating. I think that's my biggest problem, here. I love food and enjoy it in it's many forms. Calorie control sucks! Diets blow! 5 meals a day, worked but I'm finding it really hard right now, but like any new habit I need to stick with it. I might try it again.

Any new ideas are appreciated here.

A Man's Conversation~ Lost In Babyland

One day at the drugstore I was in the baby aisle when I notice two men in their twenties just standing there staring at the bottle nipples.

Are they lost?

Attempting to mind my own business, I couldn't help but listen to their conversation:

Man #1 holding two bottle nipples): What is the difference between the two?

Man #2: I don't like those ones. I like this one because it works on the little formula bottles.

Man #1: So it doesn't go around the pump?

Man #2: I don't think they go around a pump man.

Man #1: OK, on to diapers...

I personally think it's great that they want to be so involved, but I'm not used to seeing not just one but two confused men standing in the baby aisle.

Brownie points to them!

Sony Reader Product Review and Giveaway!!!

This contest is for US Readers who have spouses that are members of the military or are military themselves.


Leave a comment on this post and let me know how e-books and Readers will change the way you shop for books.


For more entries: (all entries most be indevidual comments please)


1 additional entry:
Become a follower of my blog (if you're already a follower let me know)


1 additional entry:
(Re)Tweet about this giveaway

1 addition entry:
Become a fan on A Military Wife's Mayhem on Facebook

3 additional entry:
Post about this giveaway on your blog

Contest starts now and ends January 30th

I HAVE VIDEO!!!

Thank you everyone for reading my blog! Now I have video!!
Please ignore the fact that my hair or make-up is not done and the fact that I am EXTREMELY nervous!

HELP HAITI!!

www.redcross.org
www.salvationarmy.ca

CANADA Text "Haiti' to 45678
US Text "Haiti" to 90999

MOMVERSATION MONDAY: Bucket Lists: What's on Yours?

MOMVERSATION MONDAY!!
Who doesn't like making lists? According to my dad I do, A LOT! So when Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl asked what was on our bucket list, I'm more than eager to answer this question!

What do I want to do?
1. Get tickets to the Ellen Show for my husband and me
2. Scuba diving
3. Learn to speak Dutch
4. Take a photography course
5. Go on a cruise with my husband
6. Take my kids to Disney world (OK it's for me too, I've never been!)
7. Get into my size 10 Victoria Secret Jeans
8. Travel to Australia
9. Visit my Oma in Holland
10. Cook a meal that husband says more that "It's good!"
11. Find my birth mother, if not that, my family medical records
12. Write a book
13. Finish the family tattoo on my back
14. Audition for a play
15. Be able to make a profit on my blog
16. See the Northern Lights
17. Dance in Rio's Carnival
18. Learn to surf
19. Go zip lining
20. Run a marathon
21. Be comfy enough in my own skin to get Boudoir photos taken
22. Design the perfect dress
23. Renew our vows, and this time we are doing it MY way!
24. Buy a house
25. Try different foods from around the world!
26. Make wine, you know, stomping on the grapes in the a big barrel the old fashion way, not the buy the kit at an LCBO. And if that isn't the way to do it, I just want to stomp on grapes!

27. Compete in the Body for Life Competition
28. Workout with Jillian Michaels
29. Learn to stunt drive, use a samurai sword and use a firearm at the Stiletto Spy School
30. Help build a school in Africa
31. Pole dancing
32. Walk a red carpet
33. Go into a high end designer store and try on one of their dresses right off the rack!

34. Wear a pair of heels without having to take them off halfway during an event
35. Being able to just run in a sports bra, like the skinny bitches at my local gym who run on the treadmill but don't really need to be on the treadmill. I want to be them! LOL!
36. Travel to Ireland and drink at a pub
37. See the 7 Wonders of the World
38. Learn to Krump
39. Teach an aerobics class
40. Go on Safari
41. See the Christ the Redeemer

42. Become Turbo Kick Certified
There that's it for now, what about you? What is the number one thing you want to do in your life?

Some People Just Love To Take Things Literally

My Answering Machine Message:

"Hi, you've reached Vanessa and Cpl. Mayhem, please leave a detailed message and we'll call you back as soon as possible".

Auntie Mayhem's message she left me:

"Hi this your sister! I'm just waiting outside the bustop, I just wanted to say hello! I don't know how detailed you want this message to be, I'm wearing black, call me after 5 cause I'm cold and I don't want to hold the phone up to my ear. My hair is curly today and I'm wearing redlipstick. I love you!"

Yes that was detailed! Thanks for making my day!

BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER ON MILITARY WIFE MAYHEM!

I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH!! IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE!!

STAY TUNED!!

Special Momversation Post

I know it's not Monday but I had to write my opinions on this topic.

It's funny cause this has happened to me very recently. But let me tell you how much I HATE to get unsolicited advice! It's my biggest pet peeve!

As Jessica Gottlieb of Jessicagottlieb.com says in the clip that if you want to end a friendship, give that mom parenting advice. I agree with her! I think every mother cringes when the hear "You know what worked for me, add advice" or something to that effect.

My Yahtzee bud Amy (I promise I will tell you about that one day) is pregnant and I told her, because we are only two in our group who have now gone through or going through a pregnancy, that if she had any questions to ask. BUT I never gave her advice.

KEY NOTE: PLEASE READ!!
Under NO circumstances do you give me unsolicited advice! Unless you are willing to meet my fist to your eye!

Too much? Did I make myself clear?

For the most part I find Like Daphne Brogdon of Cool Mom stated that the advice that is given to me are from people whose child can do no wrong! I hate that! If your child is so perfect, how is your advice going to help me? Have you used it? No! Your child is perfect!
The message given to me is "you suck as a parent, let me tell you how I do it right!".

I don't even mean just parental advice, marital, financial, personal (working, SAHM), religious. What gives? Do I have a sign on my forehead that says " I'm surprised I can walk on my own, help me with the rest!"

The only time you can give me any kind of advice is if I asked you for your advice.
Thank you. Wow, I feel better!


Special note: I do want to thank my blogging friends for some of the advice that I did ask for. I find it easier to take advice from my blog because I can always go back to it when I'm in a better mood. Getting advice from someone while I'm are emotionally unstable will result in having me crying in a corner! LOL

My New Favorite Kitchen Item

Once apon a time I used nothing but salt on my meals. But since I'm trying to change my eating and exercising habits (I'll come with a name soon enought. Diet and Lifestyle change just annoys me!) I decided to cut salt from my foods. Bloating sucks!

Then I went down the spice aisle and I got a little overwhelmed by it all. I don't have time to learn what spice goes best with what and that's when I saw them! Mrs. Dash's seasoning blends, all kinds of them. Some for grilling, all of them tell you what blend would work best with what kind of meat. Zero sodium, zero calories...zero, zero, zero!!

Favorite new Kitchen item! Just yummy!

Some Things You Need To Know About Me

There are some things you need to know about me:

I was adopted by amazing parents, adoption is the most important thing in my life

I have two sisters who mean the world to me. No matter what kind of fight we get into, I hope we are able to solve it.

As you already know my husband is in the military and he has tried for a number of years for me to join. It will never happen baby!

I'm a mom, as all of you must know. I've been doing this for four years now. I'm not a big fan of unsolicited advice, so don't try giving me your opinion.

I'm human, and I'm allowed to have bad days too.

I'm messy and disorganized. THERE I said it!

I'm a Jann Arden fan!

 I'm terribly self-conscious about my weight and how I look. Which is why I don't have many photos of me. Hard because I don't have many of me and my babes. I do have one of me at my current weight that I love.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my husband when he comes home from California, but I think I might the only wife on base who isn't worried about a phone call. We are not a "phone couple".  Our longest conversation is 30 minutes when he was at basic training.

I don't like being hugged or touched when I'm upset. I feel like some people don't hug me to make me feel better, they do it because they feel that's what they have to do. So don't hug me.

I interrupt during conversations. It's hard but I'm trying to learn to stop and really listen.

I hate when people have one sided conversations or try to one up me when I'm trying to vent. For example, I tell a friend that my day sucked and they tell me their day was worse. No! I wanted to vent, I didn't want to hear your problems for that particular second.

I'm hoping to start photography classes with the New York Institute of Photography come May. All the photos on this post are mine!

Most of you know I'm a big fan of Ellen DeGeneres!

I can't help but curse. I do have a potty mouth but I try not to do it front of my kids.

I wish my parents were closer sometimes. I know it will be a great possibility soon but I could really use them every once in a while. Thank godness for Skype and phones!

I love my naps! I don't know what I'm going to when Chicky stops napping!